Six Reasons to Upgrade to LED Headlights

LED headlights have quickly become the industry norm and standard equipment on many vehicles. OEMs love LED headlights because they can be made in almost any size and shape. In contrast, old-school halogen headlights require much larger reflectors, taking up significantly more real estate on the grille and under the hood. The more compact sizes of LEDs allow manufacturers to craft more modern-looking designs that are also more aerodynamic and consume less energy. For car owners looking to upgrade, the small size means that, most times, LEDs are easy to fit with room to spare. Of course, there are a lot of other benefits to LED technology, as well.

Even with newer vehicles shifting toward LEDs, the vast majority of cars on the road still use outdated halogen bulbs. But their owners aren’t entirely out of luck, as replacement LED headlight bulbs are available for a wide range of models. So, what are the benefits of investing in a quality set of LED replacement bulbs for your vehicle? Here are our top six reasons for ditching your halogen headlights for something more modern.

Better Visibility

One of the biggest complaints about halogen headlights is that they don’t produce enough light. Anyone driving down a country road or anywhere without city lights can attest to just how dim halogens are. And this lack of illumination isn’t imaginary but a cold, hard fact. The average halogen headlamp bulb produces around 1,000 lumens. Yes, there are higher-performance bulbs that emit more light, but their lifespans shorten significantly to do so.

In comparison, LED headlight bulbs range in output from 3,000 to 4,500 lumens, or roughly three times brighter than standard halogen bulbs. And when it comes to headlights, brighter is always better (within reason).

Better Color Temperature

Even if a halogen bulb could match LEDs in lumen output, the majority still have a color temperature near 3,000 K. This gives the light they produce a pale-yellow appearance. For reference, the color temperature of pure sunlight is around 5,000 K, while sunset is closer to 3,000 K. Sunsets might be great for photography and romantic walks on the beach, but are not ideal for illuminating roadways.

Nobody wants to drive down a dark road with a couple of “sunsets” trying to light their way. For those who prefer a brighter, more pure light, LED headlight bulbs have a much more eye-pleasing 6,000 K color temperature. This pure white color appears brighter and does a much better job fighting the night.

Longer Life

Longevity is something we all strive for, and those looking for the longest life would be wise to steer clear of halogen bulbs. Like the hottest TikTok trend, most halogen bulbs have very short lifespans ranging from 400 to 1,000 hours. Higher-performance variants live even shorter lives as they need to “burn” brighter to throw more light.

On the other hand, LED headlight bulbs have an expected lifespan averaging around 50,000 hours. If you were so inclined, you could continuously leave your LED lights on for six years before even considering replacements. Sure, halogen bulbs are cheaper, but you would replace roughly 50 of them to match the longevity of LEDs. That’s a lot of trips to the auto parts store that put a dent in your wallet over time.

A Cost-Effective Upgrade

Car owners and even many OEMs shied away from LEDs in the past because of their higher cost. However, the cost of LED headlight bulbs has come down significantly as the technology has advanced. For example, ORACLE’s affordable high-quality S3 LED Headlight Conversion Kits that provide 3,000 lumens start at just $69.95 per pair. Stepping up to the 3,400-lumen output of the V Series starts at $119.95 per pair. And the top-tier Premium Series LED headlight bulbs that use high-quality Philips Luxeon ZES chips and Samsung-designed internal driver components to produce a healthy 4,000 lumens start at $149.95 per pair. With three different series, there are options for every budget. Check out the video (HERE) to better understand our LED headlight bulb offerings.

It Is an Easy Upgrade

An excellent reason for upgrading to LED bulbs is that it is an easy process. On most vehicles, swapping to better headlight bulbs involves unplugging and removing the old halogen units, popping in new LED bulbs and reattaching the connector. Most of ORACLE’s LED bulbs are plug-and-play with no ballasts that require extra mounting or wiring considerations. You don’t have to be a skilled mechanic to enjoy the benefits of LED headlights, as even novices can typically tackle the installation in under an hour.

LED Headlights Go Well with Other LED Lights

Blending halogen lights with LEDs looks plain weird. The weaker yellow light outputted by halogens contrasts heavily against the pure white light of LED headlight conversion bulbs. LED fog lights or off-road lights will also look out of place if you stick to halogen bulbs. And it is almost pointless to upgrade to LED halo rings while still rocking halogen bulbs. LED headlight bulbs give the benefit of better vision and improved looks over any halogen options. And, with your headlights such a critical part of the driving experience, they are a logical choice for upgrading before adding additional lighting.